The devil is in the details

I think this phrase originally came about because neglecting little details can ultimately cause a bigger task to fail. In today’s pervasive world of 24-hour connectedness and rampant social media, little details seem to be swirling all about us. However, the key is to distinguish between those details which are truly important and crucial to the completion of a larger task, as opposed to those details that are merely distraction. In a time when people are trying to do more with less of everything, including seemingly less time, it’s more important than ever to try and weed out those unnecessary details that divert our attention from what is truly important.

Think about your day and how you spend your time. Are you wasting away your time like a spendthrift bank executive, or are you frugal, taking care to avoid wasted time on unnecessary tasks? I can think of one huge time vacuum that many of us can work on; put down the “CrackBerry!” For an interesting read on how changes in technology are affecting our concentration and daily lives, visit Newsweek and read, “Will the BlackBerry Sink the Presidency?” http://www.newsweek.com/id/183719

Virtually Yourz,
Dana Neuts

A successful business requires balance

I am getting married this weekend and, in the weeks and months leading up to this moment, I have rediscovered an obvious truth - to be successful, my life requires balance - a fact I often overlook or ignore. To be my most productive, I am implementing these steps so my business can continue to be successful, and I can reduce my stress level of trying so hard to please everyone:

1) Take 2 days off per week.
2) Make time for myself daily - proper nutrition, exercise, relaxation.
3) Make time for my family every evening and weekend.
4) Set more realistic expectations about what I can accomplish in any given day.
5) Reduce interruptions such as phone calls, e-mail checking and social media interaction.

These are guidelines I should implement already, but that I often ignore in my fury to get work done. I have found that following these rules more strictly, however, causes me to be more productive and more creative - a bonus for me and my clients!

What are some of your productivity rules?

Virtually Yourz,
Dana Blozis